Chapter Text
On late nights like these, he would rather be at a party than trying to fill in the gap of time before a meeting. Raihan kicked dirt as he stood outside Hammerlocke Stadium, waiting for the others to arrive.
Maybe he’ll take a quick jog, or four, as he waits. Knowing Piers, who will arrive late, standing out here isn’t going to make him any less bored.
So Raihan went for a walk. Hammerlocke’s nightlife wasn’t special; that would be in Spikemuth. He always thought the brochures exaggerated the atmosphere of this place. Of course, it was bustling and lively, but not with anything specifically recreational. Yes, there was a boutique there and a couple cafes, but there were Pokemon Centers that outnumbered that easily. The real traffic came from trainers, which wasn’t bad; he loved his challengers, but it did stink to have your main base, so to speak, be so damn boring.
He turned a corner, passing one of the Pokemon Centers. He peeked in. There are a few trainers here and there, some regular people. He wondered if he could sneak a battle in, but quickly shook his head against it and continued on his way.
He walks by a cafe closing up for the night, but somehow they always conveniently had some baked goods left at the end of the day if he happened to stop by. He liked this shop. The old woman who ran it with her Appletun was an absolute sweetheart; the treats were great too. He wouldn’t stop by tonight, though.
He wondered where the meeting would go in conversation. The battle season was over, so that meant sponsorships, endorsements, parties, and more meetings, both fun and not. He dragged his hand over his face just thinking of it. No doubt Oleana’s going to want them to change this and that, and who knows what else she’ll think of? He glances down at his watch; he should start heading back and opening up the doors for everyone. Why’d they always choose Hammerlocke to meet anyway?
He turned the corner again, passing by the same Pokemon Center, and noticed someone standing there. The person looked to be staring at their phone, and he could tell by their body language that they looked a bit frustrated. He exhaled out his nose. Was this a bad text? A breakup, maybe?
It wasn't his business anyway, so he’ll just walk on by. As he approached, he got a better look at them, noting their hair tucked behind their ear and a very pretty earring.
However, within a few feet of them, he felt odd. The air suddenly felt different as he breathed, and it made him stop in his tracks. He didn’t think it was coming from this person necessarily, and he glanced around as the person continued to look at their phone, unaware of his presence or whatever it was he was feeling.
“Hey," he calls out, "not to be weird, but do you feel that?" Raihan froze as he felt his spine tingle. He looked around again but saw nothing. He looked back at the person and then felt his feet lift off the ground.
“Hey, hey! Wait!” He kicked his feet as he tried to plant them back on the ground. In his struggle, he tilted his head to look back at his attacker. He hit something sturdy as he stared straight up into a red, singular eye. This wasn’t a person.
He was being grappled by a-- Dusknoir ? No wonder he got a tingle up his spine. He thrashed in the Pokemon’s hands, but its grip didn’t let up. It didn’t do much of anything but hold him in place. Shouldn’t he be dragged to the afterlife by now?
“What are you doing?” Raihan’s attention came back to the person standing nearby. Their sotto voice barely reached his ears even as they approached. He was able to confirm they were at least a person. At least he’ll have a witness, he thinks.
The person walked up to him too calmly for his liking, considering his situation. Did he really just walk his way into a trap? Was he going to get robbed tonight? It wouldn't necessarily be the first time someone’s attempted a mugging, but by how his arms were pinned to his sides in the Pokemon’s grasp, it really made it seem like a possibility tonight.
However, quickly, he felt his feet touch the ground again as they gently tapped on the ghost’s arms.
“I am so sorry about him.” You apologize; embarrassment is apparent in your tone. “He does this every time someone comes by me. He’s scared off at least five people tonight.”
“Every. Time?” Raihan asked, his eyes darting around to realize the ghost Pokemon had sunken into the shadows already. He did manage to catch a glimpse of the glowing red eye in the alleyway beside them for a moment before it too faded away.
"Only at night!” You quickly interjected, “I really am sorry about him; he just refuses to stay in his ball when I walk home. Ya know, you can never be too careful!” You tried to laugh, but it was clear you were apologetic.
"No, no, I get it!” He held his hands up, not only to seem passive to you but also to the watching eye in the dark. “I didn’t make the best impression myself. I mean, I’m this big.” He laughed nervously, shooting his hand into the air and also following your lead to lighten the mood, but when he took a moment to really consider it, you weren't that much shorter than he was. Maybe one or two inches at most.
“I was just walking by when I felt something a little strange. Meeting your friend, I guess I know what that feeling was now.” He shoved his hands into his pockets as he glanced at your phone. It looked like a map. Were you looking for someplace?
“Looking for something?” He asked, “I could help you find that.” He stammered out the words as the all-familiar chill returned: “If you wouldn’t mind some help!” He had no idea why he was being like this; he was free to move on at any time, yet that chill kept him in place. He knows that Dusknoir is watching him closely.
“Ah, was it obvious?” You asked, reaching into your pocket to pull out a small pocket map as well. “I’m having trouble finding my way to the station; it's kind of hard to read all the signs at night.”
“Oh! I know where that is; it's--" he stepped a bit closer to point out the route to you: “Just follow this straight down past Hammerlocke Hills; if you hit Route 7, you’ve gone too far.” You nod along with him, committing the directions to memory.
“It’s a relief to know I was at least walking in the right direction.”
“In fact, the station is right by my stadium. I could take you there; I have a late-night meeting to go to anyway.”
"Oh, really, if it’s not too much trouble." Your words trailed off, and he saw the gears slowly turn in your head. “Your stadium?”
“Yeah, my stadium. I’m the gym leader around here.” The realization hit you hard.
“Oh my Arceus, I am so so sorry!" You backed up, bowing your head so hard. Raihan was worried you’d come into contact with the pavement. You pressed your fingertips over the bridge of your nose as you turned your back to him. He didn’t think it would cause that kind of reaction, but then again, he was kind of important, being a gym leader and all.
“I’m so sorry, Raihan. Dusknior, please come out.” In the same breath you finished the sentence, Raihan felt that shiver up his spine as he looked over his shoulder to see that ruby-red eye looking down on him. Were Dusknoirs usually this big?
“Dusknoir, this is Raihan, and he’s going to show us where we need to go. Can you let him do that? And I’d like you to apologize.” The yellow antennae upon its head vibrate slightly as the Pokemon looks back at Raihan, the cyclopic eye furrowed in what he could assume was concern and a bit of stubbornness.
Its own way of saying, ‘no’.
“No hard feelings, right, big guy?” Raihan held a hand out, and Dusknoir regarded it for a moment before taking his hand with one of its own. His size betrayed the gentle gesture. The ghost followed with a curt head bow before letting go.
So polite, he thought.
“Good–” You chimed, “Now let’s head on home.” Dusknoir nodded before slipping away, and in the blink of an eye, was gone. Raihan felt he would have nightmares about that for a good few nights.
“Do you usually get lost like this?” He started to walk ahead of you, and you followed suit.
“Only when it starts to get dark,” you say, “night blindness.” You stated it plainly, “But I don’t let that stop me too much. With Dusknoir around, I don’t have much reason to worry. I’ll be safe till I find my way.” that he can agree with.
He paused every now and then to check and see if you were still following him, and every couple of times he looked over to see if he could get a grip on what kind of person you were. Or, for that matter, you had to be out this late regardless of your job.
“I’m not usually out this late.” You add on, as if reading his mind. “But, hey, sometimes work throws you for a loop, and now everyone’s working late. We’ve been preparing for the end of the Challenger season. Things have definitely been hectic.”
Okay, that was a clue, that he could do absolutely nothing with. Many places were preparing for booming business once the season ended.
“I know you’ve been working hard too, with all the challengers you deal with.”
“Eh, you get used to it. I’ll say, though, that they get tougher every year. A little; but so do I.” he laughed.
As they approached the station, his Rotom phone buzzed in his pocket. He reached for it and read over the words it was telling him.
“Shit, that’s right, the express line doesn’t run this late.” His rotom phone fluttered out of his hand. “How about I call you a taxi instead?”
“Oh no, I couldn’t do that. I don’t mind walking; I’ve been doing it all night.” you insisted.
“No offense, but with your sense of direction, you’ll probably make it to your house by morning. Even if it was around the corner, If you don’t mind me saying that, This was all too familiar to a certain rival of his. You feigned a hurt expression but chuckled.
“I got it, really.” You looked at your phone. “I got the directions right here, and I’ll listen to them real closely. Dusknoir too.”
“Come on, my treat~” he flashed a grin your way. “I mean, I know you have protection and all, but you look tired. Let’s call it even for not breaking my spine.”
Immediately, you covered your face with a hand, embarrassment taking over your body language once again. Defeat.
“Okay, okay. That’s fair.”
You and Raihan talked for a while as you waited. You talked about how busy you were during the season; late nights like these were common; you actually liked working late. He cracked a joke here and there, and some of them made you laugh. Your conversation settles down when you hear the familiar flaps of a Corviknight above you.
“Ah, there it is!” The two of you back up as the cab lands in front of you. In a show of chivalry, Raihan opened the door for you, and you graciously accepted.
“Ha ha, mighty kind of you~” You settled down, putting your bag by your side. You rolled down the window after he closed the door and leaned out of it.
“Dusknoir, the taxi’s here.” Raihan nearly jumped out of his skin again when Dusknoir appeared out of his shadow. He really didn’t like that. Although the intimidation this Pokemon exuded was quickly depleting when he saw the large ghost attempting to climb in through the window of the taxi.
“Ah– Wouldn’t he be a bit more comfortable in a pokeball?" Dusknoir seemed physically offended hearing that suggestion, wrapping his arms around himself and trying to shrink down to a size that could fit through the taxi’s window. Which honestly, was so comical. You laughed, letting the Pokemon know it didn’t need to go through such lengths to fit in the cab.
“I don’t think so! I mean, I don’t even have it with me." It’s alright, you can just stay in my shadow, okay? He heard you whisper.
“Wait, you mean you don’t carry his ball with you?”
“Oh no, never," you waved your hand. “Dusknoir's usually at home; always has been since he was a little Duskull. He just gets anxious when I’m not home after a certain time.” You rubbed the ghost’s arm. “Sorry about that; I’ll be sure to call the house more often if I’ll be out late, okay?” With your response, the ghost slipped away into the shadows. Raihan noticed the red eye peeking out from under the cab’s seat.
Raihan cupped his chin. “Having a Dusknoir as a personal bodyguard sounds like a good idea to me. I’ll admit he scared the shite out of me. Which I bet was his plan all along, but hey, having a big guy like that following you around would definitely make me feel safe.”
“Ha ha, he’s glad to hear that!” You beamed at him. You both stayed there in silence for a couple moments before you spoke up again.
“Seriously though, thanks for your help, Raihan; I really appreciate the taxi home. I’ll pay you back for it."
“Eh, don’t worry about it. Just let me know if you get home safely. You can lose my number after that—or not.” he winked. You never in your life thought you’d be exchanging numbers with the top gym leader in the region, but here you are.
“Ha ha, we'll see about that. Oh!” You reached into your coat pocket, pulled out a small business card, and held it out the window.
“Come by if you have free time; I know the Gym Leader's life is busy.” you grinned. He took the card instinctively, glossing over it for a second. It looked professional enough, and there's an address on it too.
“I’ll see if there’s time in my busy schedule,” he says. “I’ll tell your boss what nice conversation you make.”
“Oh, stop.” You waved him off. Satisfied with that, Raihan took a step back and gave a thumbs up to the driver to take off.
“Have a good night.” The large bird began to flap its wings, sending gusts of air to the ground, starting the liftoff. He held his hat down, his eyes squinting against the gusts. He watched as the taxi ascended steadily before something crossed his mind.
“Hey! I didn’t catch your name!” He shouted over the Corviknight’s noise.
You stuck your head out the window and shouted back down at him. You weren’t sure he heard you, but you continued, “Ask for me if you ever come by!” Within seconds, you were nothing but a blip in the sky as the taxi took off, and just like that, Raihan was standing in the streets alone.
He looked at the card between his fingers. Bijou Boutique. Raihan blinked as he read the name a few times. He’s been there before. He’s been there many times.
“Wait a second."
You worked at one of the most popular boutiques on this side of Galar.